For the first time ever the Bay of Plenty Volcanix have beaten the once mighty Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup – and done it on the hallowed ground of Eden Park.

Last night's 34-29 win, built on the back of a dynamic first half performance, confirms they're heading in the right direction after last week's 73-0 demolition of Taranaki.

It also lifts the Volcanix off the foot of the Premiership division table, and leaves them well-placed to avoid the drop back to the Championship after just one year in.

The two sides went into the match tied at the bottom of the table with one win apiece. Auckland, who have to travel to Christchurch next week to take on defending champions and current front-runners Canterbury in the final regular season round, are now favourites to go down.

The Volcanix go to Papakura to meet Counties Manukau who are equal on points with Canterbury at the top, and while a result is unlikely it would give them a semifinal berth provided Manawatu don't upset Waikato today.

The Bay side had to recover from an early Auckland try, and started the process with a penalty from Renee Wickliffe, the first success in a six out of six effort from the Black Fern which turned out to be critical to the win.

Three tries followed before the break, giving them a 27-5 lead as they turned around, and putting the scent of a famous upset in the air.

First five-eight Ora Williams grabbed the first of the tries, weaving her way over the line from a quick tap penalty after halfback Jade Tuilaepa had set up the attack with a sharp intercept when the side were hard on defence.

Then it was Tuilaepa's own turn to get over after a quality setpiece move off the back of a scrum. The Volcanix spent much of the remainder of the half putting the home side under pressure, and Wickliffe took advantage with a second penalty and then a try when she stepped through a gap in the Auckland defence.

Although this hasn't been their season the Storm have too much pride to go down without a fight, and came out after the break living up to their name. The four-try tempest they unleashed on the Volcanix would have been enough to get them home were it not for Lesley Elder's try. The Black Ferns seven got the reward for some great support play after a break from replacement winger Mystery McLean Kora.

They had built a winning lead, but still had massive work to do to protect it. Auckland weren't finished and after closing to 34-29 spent the dying minutes of the match pushing hard on the

Volcanix line. Only huge defensive intensity from the blue and golds, which skipper Christie Yule was quick to credit afterwards, held them out.